Meditation and Mindfulness for Children and Teens: Evidence and Safety
What trials and reviews show for mindfulness programs in children and teens, including a large school trial with no benefit, plus safety points and when a young person needs real support.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Evidence labels used here: promising but limited, mixed, insufficient evidence, no good evidence of benefit.
What the reviews found
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Do mindfulness programs help children and teens overall? | A review of 33 randomized trials (3,666 young people) found small benefits across outcomes, but only 17 trials (1,762 young people) used an active comparison group. [2] | Promising but limited |
| Which benefits survived against an active comparison? | Mindfulness skills (d = 0.42), depression (d = 0.47) and anxiety or stress (d = 0.18). Attention and executive function did not hold up. [2] | Promising but limited |
| School programs for ages 12 to 18 | A review of 9 trials (5,046 teens) found a benefit for perceived stress, but not clearly for depression or anxiety. Against active comparisons the overall effect was not significant. [3] | Mixed |
| Anxiety only | A review of 18 controlled studies found no statistically significant pooled effect. The authors said the studies were small and varied. [4] | Insufficient evidence |
Many trials lack an active comparison group (16 of the 33 trials in the first review had none). [2] Young people and teachers know whether they are in a mindfulness class, so expectations may shape self-reported results. Reviews of this kind mix many program types, so one result cannot be applied to every program.
The largest trial: MYRIAD
The MYRIAD trial in the UK randomized 85 secondary schools (8,376 students aged about 11 to 14) to a 10-lesson school mindfulness program or normal teaching. It was funded by the Wellcome Trust. At one year it found no evidence that the program improved risk for depression, social and emotional behavior, or well-being. [5] It did find a high chance of cost-effectiveness (83 percent) at a UK threshold, and no intervention-related adverse events were observed. [5]A follow-up analysis found that students already at risk of mental health problems scored slightly worse on depression risk and well-being after the program. The authors called the differences small and not clinically relevant, and said the program may not suit students with existing or emerging symptoms. [6] The same trial found short-term lower teacher burnout, but the effect was not significant at one year. [7]
Label for universal school programs: no good evidence of benefit in early adolescence from this trial; other trials are smaller and mixed.
Safety and who should take extra care
NCCIH says meditation and mindfulness usually have few risks, but few studies have looked for harm. A 2020 review of 83 studies (not limited to children) found about 8 percent of participants had a negative effect, most often anxiety or depression. [1] No children-specific figure was in that source.A 2025 scoping review of school-based group programs using cognitive behavioral or mindfulness techniques found at least one negative outcome in 10 of 112 programs (8.9 percent). Negative outcomes were reported for some groups, including young people at high risk, boys, younger children and children eligible for free school meals. [8] That review covered more than mindfulness, so treat it as a caution, not a verdict on one practice.
For parents and carers
- Ask who teaches the program and what training they have. NCCIH suggests asking about an instructor's training and experience. [1]
- Treat mindfulness as an extra, not a replacement. NCCIH advises against using it to replace conventional care or delay seeing a clinician. [1]
- If a child has anxiety, trauma, or low mood, talk with a pediatrician or mental health professional before starting a program. See meditation difficulties and distressing experiences and trauma-sensitive mindfulness.
When to get help
If a young person talks about suicide or is in emotional crisis, call or text 988 in the US, or call 911 for immediate danger. [9] Meditation is not a substitute for that help.Related pages
Mindfulness in schools covers program formats. Therapies for children and older adults and children and teens: natural remedy safety cover wider safety. For adult programs see MBSR, MBCT and structured programs.Frequently asked questions
Is meditation safe for kids?
Probably for most, but safety in young people is poorly studied. NCCIH says few studies have looked for harm, and a scoping review found some negative outcomes in some school programs. [1][8]
Does mindfulness reduce anxiety in children?
Results are mixed. One meta-analysis found a small benefit for anxiety or stress against active comparisons, while another of 18 controlled studies found no significant pooled effect. [2][4]
Do school mindfulness programs work?
The biggest trial, in 84 schools, found no benefit over normal teaching at one year. Smaller trials show small, uneven benefits, mainly for perceived stress. [5][3]
What age can a child start?
Proper evidence not found for a specific starting age. We searched PubMed for reviews of children and teens, and the reviews covered programs for school-age groups, not age cut-offs.
Can meditation replace therapy for a teen?
No. NCCIH advises against using meditation or mindfulness to replace conventional care. [1]
References
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Meditation and Mindfulness: Effectiveness and Safety. Page last updated June 2022. Read 2026-10-22.
- Dunning DL et al. Research Review: The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on cognition and mental health in children and adolescents, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2019. PubMed 30345511. Read 2026-10-22.
- Meta-analysis on mindfulness-based interventions for adolescents' stress, depression, and anxiety in school settings: a cautionary tale. Child Adolesc Ment Health 2023. PubMed 35765773. Read 2026-10-22.
- Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on anxiety for children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Early Interv Psychiatry 2020. PubMed 31287618. Read 2026-10-22.
- Kuyken W et al. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of universal school-based mindfulness training compared with normal school provision (MYRIAD cluster randomised controlled trial). Evid Based Ment Health 2022. Funded by the Wellcome Trust. PubMed 35820992. Read 2026-10-22.
- School-based mindfulness training in early adolescence: what works, for whom and how in the MYRIAD trial? Evid Based Ment Health 2022. PubMed 35820993. Read 2026-10-22.
- Effectiveness of universal school-based mindfulness training compared with normal school provision on teacher mental health and school climate: results of the MYRIAD cluster randomised controlled trial. Evid Based Ment Health 2022. PubMed 35820990. Read 2026-10-22.
- Scoping review: potential harm from school-based group mental health interventions. Child Adolesc Ment Health 2025. PubMed 40101758. Read 2026-10-22.
- National Institute of Mental Health. Help for Mental Illnesses: Where can I get immediate help?. Read 2026-10-22.